Radio range visualizing device



s sheets-sheet 1 Jan. l, 1944.

. J. CHAPMAN RADIO RANGE VISUALIZING DEVICE Filed April 8, 1942 Y B YJan. 11, 1944. w. .1.v CHAPMAN 2,338,703

RADIO RANGE VISUALIZIG DEVICE I Filed April 8, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,MNur-ss H'UNOREQS y fly/ @y Jan. l1, 1944. w. J. CHAPMAN RADIO RANGEVISUALIZING DEVICE Flad April 8, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Jan. n,1944' f iUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE nemo RANGE vlsUALrzmG DEVICEWilliam J. Chapman, Lake Charles, La. Animation April 11.1942, serialNo. 438,097

8 Claims. (Cl. 116-133) (Granted under the act of March 8, 1883, asmended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. '157) The invention described hereinmay be manufactured and used by or for the Goverment for governmentalpurposes, without the payment of me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a radio range visualizing device and theobject of the invention is to provide simple and convenient meanswhereby an airplane pilot, who is flying by instrument and using a radiobeam as a method of ascertaining his position along a given flighttrack, is able to set up a pattern or representation of any given beamstation and to visualize his position cn the range system while solvingproblems of orientation and method of approach.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the abovedescribed character which is so constructed and designed as to give thepilot not only a complete picture of his orientation problem withrespect to the b eam station of ther-ange system within which he isiiying but also the information and means with which to solve theproblem. The only extraneous requirement is a radio facilities chartshowing, among other things, the diierent leg settings for the variousbeam stations of the radio range system and the direction of the airportand the distance in miles from the cone of silence. 'I'his informationis set up on the device of the invention by components especiallydesigned for that purpose.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ra`dio rangevisualizing device in which an airport locator is combined with a,distance-time indicator which, upon being operated, gives the distanceof the airport from the beam station, as measured from the cone ofsilence, and automatically resolves that distance into minutes andseconds from the station at a given airspeed.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a radio rangevisualizing device in which means are provided for visually setting upbeam- Vbracketing courses to thereby enable a pilot t now in general usein Air Corps airplanes; (b)

is pocket size for convenient carrying on the perr son; (c) contains avisual reference altimeter, clock, zone noter, and log-sheet on whichpertinent data can be s et and (d) is mechanically simple inconstruction, operation and design.

The above stated objects, as well as the novel i features, of theinvention will be apparent from the following detailed descriptionthereof and from the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 2 is alongitudinal section on line 2-2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the instrument panel with the indicatordisks removed to expose the compass rose.

Figure 5 is a detail view, in perspective, of the disks comprising onegroup of indicators.

Figure 6 is a detail view, in perspective, of

the disks comprising another group of indicators.

Figure 7 is a detail view, in perspective, of the disks of thezone-noter and distance-time in.

a relatively thin panel `I of substantially stiff transparent materialand restricted to an overall size adapted vthe device to be convenientlycarried in a pocket of the pilots apparel. The panel, as shown in detailin Figures 1 and 3, is inscribed over a. substantially central area ofone face thereof with a compass scale 2 for reading the bearings intoand out of a radio range beacon station; the cone of silence of whichstation is considered as being at the center of the scale. A relativelyshort shaft or pin 3 is secured to the panel I at the center of thescale, by suitable means 4, and extends outwardly of opposite faces withthe system of airplane instrument lighting Figure 1 is a. top plan viewofthe assembled device.

of the panel for short distances. 'Ihis shaft serves as a fulcrum orpivot for a plurality of centrally apertured and independently rotatableindicator or marker disks, 5 through I2, of transparent material similarto that of the panel. The

disks are suitably separated by thin washers or spacers I3, each ofwhich is provided with a key I4 engaged in a slot I5 in the shaftwhereby it is initially slidable but non-rotatable on the shaft. Thedisks and spacers are maintained in frictional contact, one withanother, by means of `nuts i6 and Il on relatively opposite threadedends of the pivot member 3. The adjustments of these nuts will be suchas to cause the spacers to exert a braking effect on the diskssuilicient to permit readily manual rotation of the disks about thepivot member, as when setting the disks in given positions, and tofrictionally held them in place after they have been so positioned.

Disks 5 through 9 are grouped on the underside or rear face of thetransparent panel I, being rotatably supported on the rearward extension3a of the pivot member. Four of these disks. represented at l, 9, 1 and9, respectively, constitute settable beam-leg indicators and theremaining disk, represented at 9, serves as an airport di- I rectionindicator or locator. Each beam-leg indicator disk is provided with aradially extending wedge-shaped marking I9 representing 'a beam or legof a radio range station and is further marked with a radially extendingarrow I9 to facilitate setting the leg to a given bearing, the leg andarrow being diametrically aligned, one with the other. Disks l and I aremarked with the letter N and disks l and l are marked with the letter A.These letters identify the quadrants of the range in which the N and AYsignals are heard. Each beam-leg indicator disk is provided withsuitable means, such as a toothedv projection orI tab 20, whereby it isturned manually to a desired setting. An airport is conventionallyrepresented on the airport locator diskl 9 by suitable markings 2lremote from the axis of the disk and including a radial center-line 2i*freadable against the graduations of the compass scale 2 in setting theairport 2l to the bearing corresponding to a given location of theairport with respect to the range station. 'Ihe means whereby the disk 9is turned manually to a desired setting is preferably distinguished fromthe corresponding means 2l of the disks 5 through 9 to facilitate itsadjustment without confusion with or disturbance of the other disks. Tothis e'nd, the peripheral edge of the disk 9 is shown indented ornotched to provide tooth-like projections 23. 1

Disks I through I2 are grouped on the topside or front face of thetransparent panel I and rotatably supported on the -forward extension 3bof the pivot, member. The innermost disk Ill of the group has .inscribedor otherwise provided thereon adJacent its edge a short radiallydisposed winged arrow 24 pointing toward the center of the disk which issynonymous with the cone of silence of the range station representation.This arrow is used to mark the instant leg of the range with respect towhich the pilot is working out a problem of orientation or approachprocedure and is advantageous in relieving the pilot of the necessity ofkeeping in mind the instant leg and in reducing to a minimum thelikelihood of confusion and error. This leg marker disk I9 is adequatelyidentified by a suitable legend to hold heading corrections for stayingon the beam, as hereinafter more fully explained.

The markings on each lower disk in the group below the panel are clearlyvisible through the transparent material of every preceding disk in thegroup .as well as through the transparent material of the panel and ofevery disk in the group above the panel. In like manner, the markings onevery lower disk in the top group are visible through the transparentmaterial of every higher disk. The bottom or lowermost disk 5 of ytheentire series preferably is provided on its bottom face with an opaquecoating in contrast to and forming a background for the markings on thedisks and panel whereby the markings are readily distinguishable. Itwill be observed that 25 and is provided with suitable means, such as atoothed tab 26, to facilitate manual rotating. The intermediate disk IIhas a double function in that itis used as a quadrant average-bisectorindicator and also as the primary one of the two barrier-indicatorswhich are used foi setting up limiting headings in bracketing a beam.,The markings on the average bisector-barrier disk II comprise anelongated winged arrow 21 extending diametrically of the disksubstantially for the full distance, and appropriate legends 28 and 29.Tooth-like projections 30 are provided on the peripheral edge of theaverage bisectorbarrier disk I I to facilitate the manual adjustmentthereof. The outermost disk I2 constitutes the second barrierFindicatorand is marked with a diametrically extending winged arrow 3l and anappropriate legend 32. To facilitate themanual adjustment of the diskI2, the peripheral edge thereof is provided with tooth-like projections33 and the diameter of the disk is slightly less than the diameter ofthe subiacent disk Ii. The average bisector-,barrier disk Il and thesecwhen the various parts of the device are completely assembled, asshown in Figure 1, that all graduations on the compass scale are at alltimes visible.`

As afeature of much importance in aiding a pilot to reach th'e airport,the panel I is provided with a distance-time indicator for use inconjunction with the airport locator disk 9. The bearing of the airportfrom the range station and its location relative to the beams or legs ofthe staion is visibly represented by the proper setting of the disk 9and the distance of the airport from the beam station (cone of silence)is set up on the indicator which automatically resolves that distanceinto minutes and seconds of time from the station a a given airspeed.This information, combined with the visual representation of a givenlayout of range station and airport, is invaluable in enabling a pilotto determine beforehand and to work out a safe and definite approachprocedure, particularly with reference to the nnal approach to, andletting down to the field from,

the range station. The indicator comprises a small tabulated disk 34 oftransparent material pivoted at 35 to the panel I to be turned manuallythrough a selected area 36 at the lower left hand corner of the panel.The area. 3B of the transparent panel is providedv with two sightopenings or windows 31 and 38, through the former of which thecomputations on the disk 34 are exposed successively when the disk isrotated. The path traversed by the computations on the disk 34 is beyondthe window 39 so that no exposure of the computations occurs at thiswindow during the rotation of the disk.

Disk 34 is suitably marked off into a desired number of radial segmentsand each segment is divided into a pair of indicia frames 39 and 40.Thus, two relatively inner and outer circular sets or series of radiallypaired indicia frames are Vprovided on the disk. The inner set ofindicia frames 39 is marked to provide a scale or table of distances inmiles and fractions thereof from Y the cone of silence of the rangestation tothe airport and is appropriately identied at the window 3l bythe legend 4 I The outer setof indicia frames 40 is marked to provide'atableiof time factors in minutes and'secondso'f 'the time required totravel a. given distance at a given airspeed; these time factors beingcorrelated with the distance-factors of the distance-Scale so that eachdistance factor and its corresponding time factor simultaneously areexposed at the window 31. The time factors of the outer set of indiciaframes 40 are appropriately identified at the window 31 by the legends42 and 43. The distancetime indicator may be designed for use at anygiven airspeed and over any selected range of time or distance. In theinstant case, however, it is illustrated as having a distance range fromone-quarter of a mile to five miles and a controlling airspeed factor of100 miles per hour; the airspeed factor being indicated at 44. Hence,the disk 34 is shown with twenty indicia frames 39, each of which ismarked with distance-indicating indicia representing a quarter-of-a-mileincrease in distance over that represented by the distanceindicatingindicia of the next preceding frame. The time required to travel thedistance indicated in any one of the frames 39 is given in itsassociated frame 40 of the time factor table.

Positionally related to the distance-time indicator, although notfunctionally a part thereof. is a device for noting the instant signalreceived by the pilot when flying within the ocourse zone or thebi-signal zone of either an A or N` quadrant of a radio range system. Itcomprises a zone-noter disk 45 mounted beneath the distance-timeindicator disk 34 and rotatably supported on the axis or pivot 35 of thelatter disk to be turned manually. 'I'he letters A and N are marked orotherwise provided on the disk I at diametrically opposite points to beselectively exposed at the panel window 38; these letters being clearlyvisible through the transparent material of the disk 34. Contact betweenthe panel I and the disk 34 is prevented by the interposition of a thinsheet 46 of transparent material and contact between the disks 34 and 45is prevented by the interposition of a similar sheet 41. These sheetsare apertured to receive the pivot 35 and are held against turning,during rotation of the disks, by a common connection 48 with the panelI. When the zone noter is set to expose either the letter A or theletter N at the window 33, it serves to remind the pilot throughout theworking of any orientation problem of the quadrant in which he isflying.

For recording pertinent data, a log-sheet is provided in the lower righthand corner of the panel as shown in Figure 1. For this purpose, theupper surface of the transparent material of the panel is etched orotherwise provided with a plurality of lined spaces 49 havingappropriate headings for receiving the desired entries, for example,Destination, Radio wave length, Air speed, Time of departure, Estimatedtime of arrival, etc. A contrasting background 50, against which themarkings and entries of the log-sheet are visible, is provided on theunderside of the panel in underlying relation to the lined spaces of thelogsheet. Additional auxiliary units are a' visual reference altimeterand a clock. These are 1ocated in the right and left hand cornersrespectively at the top of the panel. 'I'he clock comprises a clock-dial5| inscribed or otherwise provided on the transparent material of thepanel I and a pair of superposed transparent disks 52 and 53 concentricwith the dial 5l and inde'- pendently turnable about a common centralaxis or pivot 54. The upper disk 52 constitutes the minute-disk and ismarked with an index arrow for reading the minutes and the lower disk 53constitutes the hour-disk and has an index arrow for reading the hours.By manual operation, the disks 52 and 53 may be set to indicate anydesired time such as the time of departure, estimated time of arrival,etc. The visual reference altimeter is similar in construction to theclock and diilers therefrom in that the altimeter dial 55 is `graduatedfrom one to ten and the upper arrow-marked disk 53 when read against thegraduations indicates the altitude in thousandsof feet while the lowerarrow-marked disk 51 when read against the graduatlons indicates thealtitude in hundreds of feet. Upon the altimeter, the pilot may set upfor visual reference the low- `est indicated altitude for a givenquadrant, as obtained from a radio facilities chart,` to which theairplane can let down within a 10 mile radius of the range station andstill maintain 1000 ft. clearance over the highest obstructions withinthe given area. Below the dials of the clock and the altimeter, suitablespaces 58 and 53 are provided for receiving entries identifying therespective readings. Frictional contact between the disks 52 and 53 ofthe clock is prevented by the interposed transparent'member 60 andfrictional contact between the disks 55 and 51 of the altimeter isprevented by the interposed transparent member 3|. Members 30 and 6| areintegral extensions of a transparent plate 62 aflixed in a suitablemanner tothe back of the panel.

The radio range visualizing device constructed as described andillustrated herein lends itself most readily for use in conjunction witha new type of airplane instrument lighting now in general use in AirCorps airplanes. In this type of lighting, figures and indicators ofeach instrument are painted with a fluorescent paint and a specialultra-violet (dark light) lamp is focussed upon them. All the data andindicators of the radio range visualizing device, uponv being paintedwith luminousA paint and placed under the rays of the ultra-violet lamp,stand out because each part and data is on transparent material. l

In the operation of the device, the beam-leg indicating disks and theairport direction locator disk are set to give a visual representationof the radio range system Within which the pilot 4is flying and theidentity of which previously has been established by reception over theradio of the station identification signal. Assuming, therefore, thelayout of the given station is as depicted in Figure 11, a visualrepresentation thereof is set up on the device by positioning thebeamlegs disks and the airport disk according to the bearings indicatedin the, disclosed pattern of the range, which information is of courseobtained from the radio facilities chart. The dista'nce from the cone ofsilence to the airport is indicated as being three miles and thisdistance noted on the distance-time indicator by turning disk 34 untilthe number 3 appears at the left in window 31. At miles per hour itrequires one minute and forty-eight seconds to travel three miles. Thisis indicated by the figures 1.48 appearing at the right in window 31.Thus, the distance-time indicator not only gives the distance of theairport from the station but automatically resolves that distance intominutes and seconds from the station at a given airspeed. The pilot isthereby relieved of the necessity of mental computation to ascertainthese facts when letting down for the field after final approachprocedure and is able to concentrate more fully on the letting downprocedure.

When an A or an N signal is heard, it is noted by turning the zone noterdisk 45 until the appropriate letter is displayed in Window 33. In theinstant problem, it is assumed that the pilot one of which may be workedout with and visually represented by the aid of the present invention.Certain systems require the determination of the average bisector ofeach pair of quadrants and the further operation of the device, asherein explained, is in accordance with one of such systems. Uponreceiving the A signal, the pilot turns the average bisector disk 1Iuntil the arrow 21 is set to the average bisector (260 degrees) of bothA quadrants. The airplane is then headed in a. course parallel to theaverage vbisector in whichever direction (average bisector course 260degrees or its reciprocal 80 degrees) the pilot believes best and thesignal strength change is noted. The signals increase or decrease involume depending on whether the airplane is getting closer to or fartheraway from the range station. On a heading of 260 degrees, an increase ofsignal strength occurs when the airplane is in the east quadrant of therange and coming toward the station, as represented at .s in Figure 11.A decrease in signal volume on the same heading would occur only whenthe airplane is in the west quadrant and headed away from the station asrepresented at Y in Figure 11. On the reciprocal heading ofY 80 degrees,the signal vstrength increases only if the airplane is in the westquadrant and headed toward the station as indicated at Z in Figure 11,whereas the signal strength decreases only if the airplane is in theeast quadrant and headed away from the 292 degrees. By putting theairplane on this heading immediately after crossing the east leg, thepilot will return to the beam at a slight angle.- To mark the desiredleg on which the pilot is working, the leg marker disk I0 is turnedtoset the winged arrow 24 over the desired leg, as shown in Figure 1.Then, while flying the course set up by the barrier disk I2, the pilotturns the average-bisector disk Il luitil the arrow 21 is on a headingof 258 degrees, thus setting up a course leading away from the beam ataslight angle.

The bisectorfbarrier disk Il and the barrier diskv I2 enable the pilotvisually to set his courses in relation tothe beams so asto properly geton the leg desired. With these barrier disks, a pilot may plot and workout visually any type of approach problem he deems most applicable. By

means of these markers, he sets up a visual barrier consisting of twocourses beyond which he will not position his airplane. These twocourses bracket the beam and set up limiting headings for enabling thepilot to stay on the beam and automatically ltake care of any driftencountered. Of much added value, particularly during the ilrst stagesof orientation problems or approach procedures, is the fact that whenonce a course 'is established, one of the barrier disks is used toindicate the course and the other enables the stanoras indicated at w inFigure 11. Having noted the signal strength change and knowing theinstant heading of the airplane, the pilot readily identies theparticular quadrant in which he is located and his direction of travelwith respect to the station. If he flnds that he is headed away from thestation, he immediately turns 180 degrees and illes back toward thestation. Having identified the quadrant in which he is flying, the pilotflies parallel to one leg to cross the other or desired leg. II the eastleg is to be crossed, the pilot in the eastquadrant turns to a headingof 238 which corresponds .to the bearing of the other or 'northeast legof the range. If the West leg is the desired leg, the airplane in thewest quadrant is headed 453 corresponding to the bearing of thesouthwest leg of the range; These headings and bearings are visuallyrepresented to the pilot by the radio range visualizing device andenables him readily to apply the proper method and principles of rangeorientation. The lowest indicated altitude to which an airplane canletdown in the east quadrant of the given range station represented inFigure 11 is 2500 feet. This altitude is set up on the visual vreferencealtimeter for the guidance of the pilot.

Having crossed the desired leg, the pilot immdiately turns toward thestation or away from the station (predicated on the direction beam wasapproached in relation to the station) at an angle set up by the secondbarrier disk I2 so as to fly back toward the b'eam at a. slight angle.This angle can be predetermined by the pilot with .the aid of the rangevisualizing device. For example, it having been determined that on aheading of 238 degrees in the east quadrant the east leg will beintercepted, the barrier disk l2 is turned to set the arrow 3l on aheading of about pilot visually to lay out his next course.

After continuing on the beam and passing through the cone of silence ofthe range station' on the initial approach, the pilot immediatelyproceeds out on the southwest leg, as indicated in Figure 11 at R, makesa standard procedure turn at S and files back through the cone ofsilence in preparation for a letting down to the airport. u

After passing through the range station on the final approach, theairplane is let down in a well controlled power glide usually from 1000feet over the range station to a minimum altitude for a given stationand Within a speciiied time limit. In the ideal layout, a leg of therange passes directly' over the airport as depicted in Figure i1 but inmost cases the leg passes to either side of the airport and the pilotuses the type of let down procedure which is thought best adapted forthe occasion. In this connection, the airport direction locator disk 9and the distance-time indicator are valuable aids in visuallyrepresenting to the pilot the location of the airport with respect tothe range pattern, its distance from the station as resolved into time,and such other facts and information as will enable him to determineupon and to use or work out a proper procedure approach to the airport.

The barrier courses for the pilot flying in the west quadrant of therange system, as set up en the radio range visualizing device, would be\.degrees and-.91 degrees respectively as represented in Figure 11.After crossing over the station from the west leg (108 degrees), thepilot turns right to a west heading, as at T, and maintains that headinguntil the southwest leg (53 degrees) is encountered at which time thepilot turns left and proceeds out upon the southwest leg, makes thestandard procedure turn at S and flies back toward the station and theairport. i

Having thus described the invention. what is claimed as new is: A y

l. A radio range visualizing device comprising a compass rose, and aplurality of superposed indicator members of transparent matev assavos 5rial pivoted on a common axis at the center of the compass. rose andindependently rotatable. said indicator members including four beam-legindicating disks positionable to a given bearing on the compass rose forsetting up a pattern of a given beam station, an airport locator diskpositionable with respect to a given compass bearing for setting up agiven location of the airport with respect to the beam station. alegmarkerdisk positionable to indicate a given or desired beam leg, anda pair of barrier disks positionable with respect to a given beam legand certain compass bearings ior setting up barrier courses bracketing abeam, one of said barrier disks serving also as a quadrant averagebisector indicator.

2. A radio range visualizing device comprising a supporting memberhaving a compas rose, and a plurality of superposed indicators pivotedon a common axis at the center of the compass rose and grouped onrelatively opposite sides of the supporting member, said indicatorsbeing independently rotatable for setting up a pattern of a given radiorange station and for indicating courses thereon, said indicators havingindividual distinguishing and identifying markings thereon wherebycollectively they provide four beam-representing members positionable toa given bearing on the compass rose-an airport locator memberpositionable with respect to a given compass bearing-a beam markermember positionable to indicate a given or desired beam leg-a combinedquadrant averagebisector-and-barrier indicator member and-a secondbarrier indicator member,'said barrier indicator members beingpositionable with respect to a given beam leg and certain compassbearings, the said supporting member and the said indicators being oftransparent material so that the markings on the members oi each groupare visible through vthe members of the other mun j 3. A radio rangevisualizing device comprising a supporting member having a compass rose,a plurality of beam indicator members pivoted on a common axis at thecenter of the compass rose and independently adjustable with respectthereto to be positioned along selected bearings to represent the beamsoi a given radio range station, an airport-representing memberadinstable with respect to the compass rose and the beam indicators forvisually representing the relative position oi the airport. a beammarkermember adapted to be positioned over a with respect to a selected one oithe beam-rel,

resenting indicators, and a pair oi independently movablebarrier-indicating members for setting up barrier courses bracketing abeam represented by a selected one oi said beam-ti118 indicators.

l position of the airport in the given range system, and a pair ofindependently adjustable barrier-indicating members for setting upbarrier courses bracketing a beam represented by a selectedbeam-representing indicator, one of said bander-indicating members beingusable also as a quadrant average bisector indicator to be positionedwithin a selected pair of quadrants for visually representing theorientation course for said quadrants.

6. A radio range visualizing device having in combination a compassrose, a plurality oi radio beam-representing members adjustable withrespect to the compass rose to be relatively positioned in visualrepresentation of the beams of 275 a given ratio range beacon, and apair of independently adjustable movable barrier-indicating membersadjustable with respect to the compass rose and the beam-representingmembers for visually setting up barrier courses 39 bracket a beam.

7. A radio range visualizing device having, in combination, a supportingmember provided with a compass rose, anfd a plurality of independentlyadjustable disks of transparent material pivoted to the member forrotation about a common axis at the center of the compass rose andhaving individual distinguishing and identifying markings thereonwhereby collectively they provide iour beam-representingy diskspositionable to a 40 given bearing on the compass rose in visualrepresentaticn oi the beam layout ofy a given range pattern and a pairoi barrier-representing disks positionable with respect to a. given beamleg and certain compass bearings for visually representing barriercourses bracketing the beam."s

8. A radio range visualizing device comprising a supporting memberhaving a compass rose, and a plurality of independently adjustablevdisks of transparent material pivotally mounted von the supportingmember for rotation about a common axis at the center of the compassrose, said disks having individual distinguishing and identifyingmarkings thereon whereby collectively they provide fourbeam-representing members positlonable to a given bearing on the compassrose to set up a visual representation of a given range pattern and aquadrant aver- `age-bisector indicator member positionable to a selectedbearing on the compass rose for visually representing the averagebisector course for a selected pair of quadrants of the givenl rangepattern, each oi the said beam-representing members being provided witha radially extending wedge-shaped marking representing a beam 05 of aradio .range station. and the said quad-- rant average-bisectorindicator member being marked with an arrow-like bisector line extendingdiametrically oi the member. the said sup-'portingmemberandthesaiddisksbeinstrans- .wnmu J.

